Adjustable chuck for containers or vials

ABSTRACT

A chuck fixture is disclosed for spinning liquid filled containers, such as vials. The chuck has a body portion which carries several circumaxially spaced spring loaded plungers for supporting a vial. An outer cam ring is provided on the body portion for camming outer portions of these plungers to vary the radial positions of internal springs in order to accommodate vials of various size. A central plug is slidably received axially in the body portion, and the plug is rotatable to vary the positions of inner portions of the plungers. This plug also serves to eject a vial from the chuck.

United States Patent [1 1 1111 Price Nov. 5, 1974 [54] ADJUSTABLE CHUCK FOR CONTAINERS 3,461,649 8/1969 Ermer, Jr., et al 53/367 X 0R VIALS 3,589,742 6/1971 Flick 279 71 [75] Inventor: Richard W. Price, West Simsbury, A

Conn Primary Examiner-Franms S. Husar Assistant Examiner-Horace M. Culver [73] Assigneez Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Attorney Agem, Firm McC0rmick p l i &

Conn. Huber [22] Filed: Feb. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 333,455 [57] ABSTRACT Related Application Data A chuck fixture is disclosed for spinning liquid filled Continuation-impart 0f containers, suchas vials. The chuck has a body por- 1971, abandoned. tion which carries several circumaxially spaced spring loaded plungers for supporting a vial. An outer cam [1.8. C]. E, L, ring is provided on the portion for amming 279/81 outer portions of these plungers to vary the radial pollt. sitions of internal prings in rder to accommodate [58] Fleld M Search 279/89 1 81, 16, 71, vials of various size. A central plug is slidably received 279/1 L1 1 233/26 1 R; 53/367 368, axially in the body portion, and the plug is rotatable to 201, 353; 83/914 vary the positions of inner portions of the plungers.

This plug also serves to eject a vial from the chuck. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 25 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures 2,135,212 ll/l938 Kantor 53/367 X as as lOb PATENTEDNnv 5 1914 SHEET 2 OF 4 lllllll I ll PATENTEmmv 5W4 3.845.963

saw an? 4 FIG. I3

ADJUSTABLE CHUCK FOR CONTAINERS OR VIALS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 206,270 entitled ADJUSTABLE CHUCK FOR CONTAINERS OR VIALS, filed Dec. 8, I971, now abandoned, said application being in the name of Richard W. Price.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to chucking devices for handling liquid filled containers, and deals more particularly with a chuck fixture of a type adapted for use in an inspection machine wherein a plurality of such containers are to be handled in an automatic fashion, each such containers being spun up briefly to cause the liquid contents to swirl, after which the container is stopped and the swirling contents inspected for the presence of moving particles by an electronic device,

such as a vidicon capable of comparing successive pictures of the container. For example, patent application, Ser. No. 869,144, filed Oct. 24, I969, now abandoned in favor of a continuation application filed Sept. 9, I971 under Ser. No. 179,l42, entitled Foreign Particle Inspection Machine and assigned to the assignee herein, now US. Pat. No. 3,765,533 shows a conventional chuck capable of receiving a vial or ampoule from an upwardly movable plunger or lift table, and for resiliently gripping the container between spring loaded balls for subsequent spinning, inspection, and ultimately ejection or discharge by means of an internal plug. The plug is operated by means external to the chuck, through a flanged collar provided outside of the upper portion of the chuck, and connected to the container ejecting plug.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved chuck fixture which is capable of handling containers of various size in a machine of the type referred to above such that only simple adjustment need be made in the chucking fixture to accommodate articles of various neck and closure size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A chuck fixture is disclosed for releasably retaining containers of various size, especially in the area of container neck portion diameter and closure diameter. The chuck fixture comprises a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving the neck portion of the container, and a plurality of circumaxially spaced radially extending openings communicate with this central opening and plungers are slidably received therein. Spring biasing means are provided internally of the plungers themselves, inner portions of the plungers being adapted to engage the neck portion of the container to hold it in accurately aligned relationship with the axis of rotation of the chuck for inspection. A container ejecting plug is slidably mounted in the central body openingfor movement between a normal position and a second position axially spaced from the normal, and this plug is connected to a slidable outer sleeve or barrel portion which can be engaged by suitable means external to, the chuck for ejecting the container. The plug includes first and second side abutment surfaces for engaging the inner ends of the plungers when the plug is in its normal position, and a cam ring is provided externally of the body portion for camming outer portions of each of the plungers, and particularly for prepositioning the plunger springs which urge the inner plunger ends against the neck portion of the container. Thus, the plungers and associated springs can be prepositioned in at least two discrete positions for accommo dating articles of various size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows, in side elevation, a chuck fixture incorporating the present invention, and two size containers on a lift table, the smaller container being shown in full lines and the larger in broken lines.

FIG. 2 shows the chuck fixture of FIG. 1 with portions being broken away to reveal the smaller of the two containers shown in FIG. 1 as it is being lifted into the chuck.

FIG. 3 shows an end on axial view of the chuck of FIG. 1 being taken generally along the line 3-3 of that view.

FIG. 4 shows in vertical section the chuck fixture of FIG. 1 with the upper end of a container being shown as it engages the plug slidably received in the chuck body portion.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the upper end of the plug.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the chuck fixture shown in FIG. 4, but at a still later instant in time, showing the vial held in the chuck.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view being taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 showing the cam ring.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing only the cam ring for the chuck fixture shown in FIGS. 1-7 inclusively, and reveals the orientation of the camming surfaces which engage the outer ends of each of four plungers.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of one of these plungers, and also illustrates one of the camming surfaces of FIG. 8 in greater detail, the outer cam ring being shown in full lines in one position, and in broken lines in its alternative position.

FIG. 10 is anenlarged view of the lower end of the plug used in the chuck fixture of FIGS. 1-7 inclusively, showing the discrete radii of its two abutment surfaces.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but shows the orientation of the plug and outer cam ring in the chuck fixture of FIG. 2 when these components are in their alternative positions for accommodating larger size vials.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 but is taken at a slightly later instant of time to illustrate the purpose of the support ring which is adapted to engage the shoulder portion of larger size vials.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing an improved retaining ring for supporting larger size vials in an improved chuck. The ring is shown at one location for handling one size vial on the left side of FIG. 13 and at another location for handling even larger vials on the right hand side of FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a detailed view of the stepped spacer which permits the retaining ring to be arranged to receive the different size vials of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on the arcuate line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a vial 10 on a lift table or plunger mechanism 12 of the type which is adapted to lift or raise the vial 10 into a chucking fixture l4 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Although the chucking device 14 to be described might be adapted for use in handling a wide variety of containers liquid filled or empty, and with or without closures, the vial 10 is liquid filled, and is provided with a closure 11 of conventional configuration. A shoulder portion of the vial l cooperates with the closure 11 to define a neck portion of the container to provide a convenient concave portion to be gripped by the chuck to be described. A slightly larger vial a is shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, and has a slightly larger size neck portion and closure lla. Both size vials can be accommodated in the chucking device of fixture 14, only minor adjustments of the chucking device being required prior to changing over from one size vial to the other.

The lift table 12 is adapted to move vertically in machine of the type described in the above-identified patent application, and several chucking devices of the type shown at 14 might be provided in the turret of such a machine, and the reader is referred to said application for a more complete description of the background environment in which the chucking device 14 is best adapted for use.

Turning now to a more complete description of the chucking device or fixture 14, a spindle 16 is adapted to support the chucking device for rotation on its axis, which axis is vertically oriented in the machine described in the above-identified patent application. As described therein suitable means is provided for spinning the chuck fixture 14 on this axis, for braking the chucks rotational movement to stop the vial and allow the liquid contents to swirl in order to permit the inspection of these contents for the presence of foreign particles or the like. The chuck fixture 14 includes a body portion 18, which body portion is of generally annular configuration, and includes an upwardly extending annular stem portion 20, as well as a lower radially outwardly extending boss portion 22, in which boss portion a plurality of radially extending bores 68, 68 are provided for slidably receiving the plunger means 28, 28 to be described. FIG. 2 shows the vial 10, on the lift table 12, as it is being raised upwardly into a central opening 24 defined in the body portion 18 of the chuck, and FIGS. 4 and 6 show in greater detail the internal components of the chuck fixture. FIG. 6 shows the vial after it has been retained in the chuck fixture. The radially outwardly extending boss portion 22 of the body portion 18 of the chuck is best shown in FIG. 3, and this view also shows the central opening 24 in the body portion for receiving the upper end portion of the vial 10. FIG. 3 also shows the ejecting plug member 26 which is slidably received in this central axially extending opening 24 of the body portion 18, and as best shown in FIG. 3 the plunger means 28, 28 comprise four circumaxially spaced plug engageable inner members 48, 48 which are spring biased inwardly to engage abutment surfaces provided for this purpose in the plug 26.

The plug 26 is mounted for limited angular rotation in the central axially extending opening 24 of the body portion 18, and as shown in FIG. 5 the plug 26 is more particularly mounted in a nonrotatable plug support member 27, which member 27 is pinned to an outer barrel or collar 30 by means of the pin 32. The pin 32 is slidably received in slots 34, 34. The slots 34, 34 are of axially elongated configuration as indicated generally in FIGS. 4 and 6, being provided for this purpose in the annular stem 20 of the body portion 18. As so constructed and arranged vertical movement of the collar or slide 30 causes corresponding vertical movement of the plug support 27 and hence of the plug 26. So too, vertical movement of the plug 26, caused by insertion of the vial 10 in the chuck, will raise the plug 26, and also the plug support 27, resulting in upward movement of the collar 30. As mentioned above, the plug 26 is adapted to be rotated through approximately 45 as a result of indexing means in the form of the screw 36 shown generally in FIGS. 4 and 5. This screw 36 supports the plug 26 in the member 27 for limited angular rotation, as defined by the slot 29 in the plug support member 27. The set screw 36 has one end constrained to move only in this slot, and its opposite end carries a conventional spring loaded ball 38 for releasably retaining the plug 26 in its limit positions. Two detents 40, 40 are provided in the inner wall of the plug support member 27 for this purpose. In the plug position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the plug 26 will be seen to have its fluted sides in engagement with the plungers 28, 28 so as to hold the plungers at appropriate radial positions for receiving the vial l0, and more particularly the particular size vial closure 11 in the chucking device. Rotation of the plug 26 through 45, by insertion of a screwdriver or the like in the slot provided for this purpose in the lower end of the plug, permits the operator to vary the preliminary position of the plungers 28, 28 so that they engage other side abutment surfaces on the plug 26 to hold each of these plungers in a second radial position wherein vials having neck portions and closures of slightly larger diameter are adapted to be conveniently received.

The fluted side portions of the plug 26, and their associated effective radius, are indicated generally in FIG. 10 by the arrow 42, and the secondary side abutment surfaces of the plug 26 have a slightly larger effective radius, as indicated generally by the'arrow 44 in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 shows the plug 26 after it has been rotated 45 from its FIG. 2 position so as to receive vials of slightly larger diameter. Still with reference to the plug 26, and as described in detail in the abovementioned application of the assignee herein, said plug serves to eject or discharge a vial from the chuck 14. The collar 30 can be moved downwardly by suitable means (not shown) to discharge or eject the vial 10 from the chucking fixture at a station in the machine following the inspection of the vials and its contents.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the plunger means 28 used in gripping the vial in the chuck fixture, and referring more particularly to FIG. 4, each of these plunger means 28 includes an inner end portion 48 which has an innermost end of hemispherical configuration for engaging the neck portion of the vial as best shown in FIG. 6. The portion 48 also includes a radially outwardly open threaded portion for receiving a screw 50. The outwardly facing end portion of the inner plunger member 48 also includes a spring seat defining portion for receiving one end of a coil compression spring 52, the other end of said spring being seated against a correspondingly shaped opening in a sleeve member 54. Both the sleeve member 54 and the inner plunger end portion 48 are of substantially the same diameter and are slidably received in the radially extending bores or openings 68, 68 circumaxially spaced in the boss portion 22 of the body 18 of the chuck fixture.

Means is provided for varying the radial position of the spring 52 with respect to the central axis of rotation of the chuck fixture, to correspond with the prepositioning of the inner plunger end portion 48 as defined by the abutment surfaces on the plug 26, all of this without varying the spring force exerted by the plunger end portion on the vial to be inspected, and said means comprises a cam ring 60 mounted for limited angular rotation on the radially outwardly extending boss portion 22 on the body 18 of the chuck. This cam ring 60 is shown to best advantage in FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 shows in schematic fashion its mode of operation. FIG. 7 shows the cam ring 60 in conjunction with the boss portion 22 and a support ring 81 to be described'This cam ring 60, and its function will now be described in detail.

The cam ring 60 is annular in shape and adapted for limited angular rotation on the outer periphery of the boss portion 22 of the body 18 of the chucking fixture l4. Indexing means is provided in the form of a set screw 62, similar to the set screw 36 described above, and a spring loaded ball element 64 releasably engages one of two detents 66 in the boss portion 22, to hold the cam ring 60 in either of two limit positions. FIG. 7 shows the four circumaxially spaced generally radially extending bores 68, 68 for slidably receiving the plunger means 28 described above, and FIG. 9 shows in schematic fashion one of said bores 68, as well as one of the four plunger means 28, 28. The solid line position shows the inner end 48 of the plunger in engagement with said inner or first side abutment surface on the plug 26 as represented by the radial arrow 42. The broken line position of the plunger inner end 48 shows the position of said element when in engagement with the outer, or second side abutment surface represented by the radial arrow 44 of the plug 26.

The plunger sleeve 54 can be seen from FIG. 9 to be in engagement with an inwardly facing cam surface 70 defined in the cam ring 60, and to thereby position the coil compression spring 52 at least when the plunger inner end portion 48 is in the solid line position shown. When the plug 26 is rotated from the first position shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6 to the second position best shown in FIG. ll, thereby urging the plunger inner ends 48, 48 to the broken line position, best shown in FIG. 9, the outer cam rings 60 must also be rotated from its solid line position best shown in FIG. 9 to the broken line position indicated, allowing the plunger sleeves 54, 54 to move radially outwardly a radial distance corresponding to the radial shift of the inner ends 48, 48. This results in a radial shifting of the spring 52 from the solid line position shown to a position wherein said spring can continue to exert substantially the same force on the plunger inner end 48 in spite of said plunger having been shifted radially outwardly to accommodate a slightly larger size vial closure, and neck portion.

The screw comprises a radially outwardly projecting portion of the plunger inner end 48, and also defines a radially inwardly facing flange surface for engagement with the outwardly facing cam surface 72 of the cam ring when the plug 26, and/or vial I0, is not in engagement with the inner end of the plunger 48. It will of course be apparent that this flange surface also moves or shifts through the same radial distance whenever the plug and cam ring 60 are indexed to receive vials of different size. FIG. 8 shows in greater detail the particular configuration for each of the inner and outer cam surfaces, '70 and 72 respectively, associated with the four plunger means in the chuck fixture of the preceding views.

The operation of the above-described chuck fixture 14 is adequately explained with reference to the description of the various components, but a summary will be presented in order to point out the advantages to its use in a machine of the type described in the above-mentioned application. In adapting the chuck fixture 14 for use with a vial such as that shown at 100 when the chuck fixture has been previously adjusted to receive vials of the type shown at 10, the operator merely places a screwdriver or other tool into the slot provided for this purpose in the lower end of the plug and rotates the plug through 45 to an indexed position wherein the larger size diameter of the plug is utilized to urge the plungers 28, 28 radially outwardly to a preliminary position wherein the vial closure and neck portion can be conveniently received. The plungers 28, 28 are spring biased inwardly so as to engage the neck portion and hold the vial in position in the chuck. However, in order to assure that the spring force is kept constant regardless of the size vial being handled, the operator must also shift the cam ring 60 through substantially the same 45 angle to its other indexed position wherein the plunger sleeves 54 will be shifted radially outwardly through a corresponding displacement enabling the larger size vial 10a to be conveniently received in the chuck fixture 14 as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The operator need only so adjust each chuck provided in the turret of a machine of the type referred to, and vials of various size and closure diameter can be conveniently accommodated, all with a minimum of down time to the machine itself.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ALTERNATIVE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 12, a support ring is shown to steady the vial 10a held in the chuck. Although most larger vials have a given size cap portion, which can be readily accommodated in the chuck described with reference to FIGS. 1-12, the neck portions of the larger size vials may be so configured that the plungers 48, 48 do not adequately support these larger vials for spinning or the like. FIG. 13 shows a support ring 81 generally similar to that shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. This ring is of annular shape with a central opening which defines a beveled lower edge for engaging the shoulder portion of a glass vial 10b or 100. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, this support ring is mounted on screws or studs at a predetermined distance below the lower face of the boss portion of the chuck body 18. Springs serve to bias the ring toward the FIG. 11 position, but allow it to be moved upwardly by a vial having an enlarged shoulder diameter. However, in a high speed machine, the glass vial cannot be used to exert much force on this ring 81, and

in handling some larger vials it has been found desirable to provide a convenient mount for this ring 81, so that the spacing between it and the lower boss portion of the body 18 of the chuck can be conveniently varied.

AS shown in H0. 13, the support ring 81 is supported on screws 84, 84 which are loosely received in openings (not shown) in the lower boss of the chuck body portion 18. The heads 86, 86 of these screws abut a positioner ring or washer 88 best shown in H68. 14 and 15. Springs 90, 90 urge the heads 86, 86 of these screws 84, 84 into contact with the positioner ring 88, and the ring 88 is so designed that several initial positions of the support ring 81 is possible.

In a typical chuck, four screws 84, 84 are provided, and each is received in an elongated arcuate slot 92, 92 as shown in FIG. 14. As so constructed the positioner ring 88 can be rotated relative to the chuck body 18 through the angle slightly less than 90. The pair of positions for the screws 84, 84 illustrate this in the drawings.

Each such slot 92 has a series of upwardly open cylindrical cavities 94, 96, 98 and 100 spaced along its length and each of these cavities has a diameter slightly larger than that of the heads 86, 86 of the screws 84, 84. As so constructed the heads of the screws can be collectively positioned at five different heights with respect to the boss of the chuck body portion 18, by rotating the positioner ring 88 to the desired angular orientation. To achieve the desired change in the height of the support ring, the operator merely presses the ring 81 toward the chuck body against the force of the springs 85, 85 and manually rotates the positioner ring until the desired cavity is aligned with the bolt head of each screw 84. When he releases the support ring it will be in either one of the limit positions shown in FIG. 13, or any one of three in between positions.

Although the chuck shown in FIG. 13 of the drawings is similar in most respects to that shownin FIGS. 4 and 6, the improved positioner ring 88 just described represents a substantial improvement in that the chuck is adapted to handle containers or vials of an even wider variety of sizes and shapes in an automated inspection machine. As mentioned hereinabove such a machine includes means for ejecting the container, the collar 30 is provided expressly for this purpose. The plug 26 is connected to the collar 30, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, and will engage a container to eject it when the collar is moved axially on the stem portion 20. The container engaging plungers 48, 48 of the first embodiment have generally hemispherically shaped inner ends which adequately grip most contiiners.

The plungers of FIG. 13 are of slightly different configuration, primarily to improve the above described ejecting function. More particularly, the inner ends of the plungers shown in FIG. 13 are preferably of conical shape to improve their camming action during the ejection of the container from the chuck.

I claim:

1. A chuck for releasably retaining containers of various size comprising a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving one end of the larger size container to be accommodated and having a plurality of radially extending openings communicating with said central opening, plungers slidably received in said radially extending openings, biasing means for urging said plungers radially inwardly, a container ejecting plug slidably mounted in said central body opening for movementbetween a normal axial position wherein said plungers engage first side abutment surfaces of said plug and a position axially spaced from said normal position, said plug being mounted for limited angular rotation in said central body opening for movement between first and second angular positions, said plug having second side abutment surfaces for stopping said plungers when said plug is in said normal axial position and in said second angular position whereby said plungers are stopped in first and second plunger positions defined by engagement with said first and second side abutment plug surface.

2. The chuck defined in claim 1 further characterized in that each of said plungers includes a radially outwardly projecting portion having an inwardly facing flange surface, and a cam ring extending peripherally around said body and mounted for limited rotational movement with respect to said body, said cam ring having an outer cam surface for engaging said inwardly facing flanges of plunger projecting portions to stop the plungers at innermost preset portions when said plug is axially spaced from said normal position.

3. The chuck defined in claim 2 further characterized in that each of said plungers further includes a sleeve slidably received thereon, and said biasing means comprising a coil compression spring having its outer end acting against said sleeve and its inner end acting against the plunger to urge the plunger inwardly, and an inner cam surface on said cam ring for engaging said sleeve to permit the spring to be adjusted in position radially when said plunger is moved to its preset position.

4. The chuck defined in claim 3 further characterized by indexing means for said plug to permit said plug to be manually rotated from and to said first and second angular positions.

5. The chuck defined in claim 3 further characterized by indexing means for said cam ring to permit said cam ring to be manually rotated from and to first and second angular positions to define preset plunger and spring positions corresponding to the smallest and largest size container to be accommodated.

6. The chuck defined in claim 3 further characterized by an outer barrel member slidably received outside said body portion and connected to said plug for axial movement therewith.

7. The chuck defined in claim 3 further characterized by an annular ring below said body portion central opening for engagement with the shoulder portion of the larger size containers.

8. The chuck defined in claim 7 further characterized by support means for said annular ring such that said ring is mounted for limited axial movement with respect to said body portion, and biasing means for urging said annular ring axially outwardly away from said rim portion for engaging the shoulder of the larger size containers to exert a resilient outward force thereon.

9. A chuck for releasably retaining containers of varying body diameter and of varying neck and closure diameters, all of said containers having a concave neck outline, said chuck comprising a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving the closure of the larger size container to be accommodated, said body portion having a plurality of radially extending openings arranged symetrically around said central opening and communicating therewith, plunger means slidably received in said radially extending openings, each plunger means including an inner plunger end for engaging the concave neck portion of the container, and biasing means for urging said plunger end radially inwardly, a cam ring mounted for limited rotational movement on said body portion and extending peripherally around said radially extending openings, said plunger means further including a radially outwardly projecting portion having an inwardly facing flange surface, and said cam ring having an outer cam surface for engaging said flange surface on said projecting plunger portion to stop the plunger inner ends at preset positions wherein containers of different neck and closure diameters can be received therebetween with retaining forces which are substantially equal.

10. The chuck defined in claim .9. further characterized by a container ejecting plug slidably mounted in said central body opening for movement between a normal axial position wherein said plunger inner ends engage first side abutment surfaces of said plug and a position axially spaced from said normal position, said plug being mounted for limited angular rotation in said central body opening for movement between first and second positions, said plug having second side abutment surfaces for stopping said plunger inner ends when said plug is in said normal axial position and in said second angular position.

11. The chuck defined in claim 10 further characterized in that each of said plunger means includes a sleeve slidably received on said projecting plunger portion, said plunger biasing means comprising a coil compression spring one end of which acts against the plunger inner end and the other end of which spring acts against said plunger sleeve.

12. The chuck defined in claim 9 further characterized in that said cam ring includes an inner cam surface for engaging said sleeve to permit the spring force to be preset to a predetermined value at said preset positions of said plunger inner ends.

13. The chuck defined in claim 11 further characterized by indexing means for said plug to permit said plug to be manually rotated from and to said first and second angular positions.

14. The chuck defined by claim 13 further characterized by indexing means for said cam ring to permit said cam ring to be manually rotated from and to first and second angular positions to define said preset plunger and spring positions.

15. The chuck defined by claim 10 further characterized by an outer barrel member slidably received outside said body portion and connected to said plug for axial movement therewith.

16. The chuck defined by claim 10 further characterized by an annular ring below said rim portion of said body portion central opening for engagement with the shoulder portion of the larger size containers.

17. The chuck defined by claim 10 further characterized by support means for said annular ring such that said ring is mounted for limited axial movement with respect to said body portion, and biasing means for urging said annular ring axially outwardly away from said rim portion for engaging the shoulder of the larger size containers to exert a resilient outward force thereon.

18. The chuck defined by claim 17 further characterized by screws threadably received in said ring and slidably received in said chuck body portion, said biasing means comprising a coil compression spring carried by said screws and acting between said ring and said body portion.

19. The chuck defined by claim 18 further characterized by a positioner ring engageable by the heads of said screws and having arcuately shaped slots for said screws to serve as a washer between the heads of said screws and a surface of said chuck body portion opposite the spring engaging surface of said body portion.

20. The chuck defined by claim 19 further characterized by said positioner ring having stepped thicknesses along said arcuate slot defined by a series of upwardly open cavities for the heads of said screws to permit prepositioning said support ring at any one of several spacings with respect to said chuck body portion.

21. The chuck defined by claim 7 further characterized by screws threadably received in said ring and slidably received in said chuck body portion, said biasing means comprising a coil compression spring carried by said screws and acting between said ring and said body portion.

22. The chuck defined by claim 21 further characterized by a positioner ring engageable by the heads of said screws and having arcuately shaped slots for said screws to serve as a washer between the heads of said screws and a surface of said chuck body portion opposite the spring engaging surface of said body portion.

23. The chuck defined by claim 22 further characterized by said positioner ring having stepped thicknesses along said arcuate slot defined by a series of upwardly open cavities for the heads of said screws to permit prepositioning said support ring at any one of several spacings with respect to said chuck body portion.

24. In a container chuck of the type which includes a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving the end of a container and having radially extending openings in which biased plungers are slidably received, and which chuck also includes an ejecting plug movable axially in the opening to eject a container therefrom, the improvement comprising an annular support ring below said body portion for engaging a shoulder of the container to steady it in the chuck, screws threadably received in said support ring and slidably received in said chuck body portion, a coil compression spring carried by each of said screws and acting between said support ring and said body portion, a positioner ring engageable by the heads of said screws and having arcuately shaped slots for said screws to serve as a washer between the heads of said screws and a surface of said chuck body portion opposite the spring engaging surface of said body portion, and said positioner ring having stepped thicknesses along said arcuate slot defined by a series of upwardly open cavities for the heads of said screws to permit prepositioning said support ring at any one of several spacings with respect to said chuck body portion.

25. A chuck for releasably retaining containers characterized by a neck portion defining an opening, and also characterized by a shoulder portion somewhat larger than the neck portion, said chuck comprising a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving the neck portion of the container, said body portion including radially extending openings communicating with said central axial openings, plungers slidably received in said radially extending openings, biasing means for urging said plungers inwardly toward said 12 acting between said support ring and said body portion of said chuck, and a positioner ring engageable by the heads of said screws and having arcuately shaped slots for said screws to serve as a washer between the heads of said screws and a surface of said chuck body portion opposite the spring engaging surface thereof. 

1. A chuck for releasably retaining containers of various size comprising a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving one end of the larger size container to be accommodated and having a plurality of radially extending openings communicating with said central opening, plungers slidably received in said radially extending openings, biasing means for urging said plungers radially inwardly, a container ejecting plug slidably mounted in said central body opening for movement between a normal axial position wherein said plungers engage first side abutment surfaces of said plug and a position axially spaced from said normal position, said plug being mounted for limited angular rotation in said central body opening for movement between first and second angular positions, said plug having second side abutment surfaces for stopping said plungers when said plug is in said normal axial position and in said second angular position whereby said plungers are stopped in first and second plunger positions defined by engagement with said first and second side abutment plug surface.
 2. The chuck defined in claim 1 further characterized in that each of said plungers includes a radially outwardly projecting portion having an inwardly facing flange surface, and a cam ring extending peripherally around said body and mounted for limited rotational movement with respect to said body, said cam ring having an outer cam surface for engaging said inwardly facing flanges of plunger projecting portions to stop the plungers at innermost preset portions when said plug is axially spaced from said normal position.
 3. The chuck defined in claim 2 further characterized in that each of said plungers further includes a sleeve slidably received thereon, and said biasing means comprising a coil compression spring having its outer end acting against said sleeve and its inner end acting against the plunger to urge the plunger inwardly, and an inner cam surface on said cam ring for engaging said sleeve to permit the spring to be adjusted in position radially when said plunger is moved to its preset position.
 4. The chuck defined in claim 3 further characterized by indexing means for said plug to permit said plug to be manually rotated from and to said first and second angular positions.
 5. The chuck defined in claim 3 further characterized by indexing means for said cam ring to permit said cam ring to be manually rotated from and to first and second angular positions to define preset plunger and spring positions corresponding to the smallest and largest size container to be accommodated.
 6. The chuck defined in claim 3 further characterized by an outer barrel member slidably received outside said body portion and connected to said plug for axial movement therewith.
 7. The chuck defined in claim 3 further characterized by an annular ring below said body portion central opening for engagement with the shoulder portion of the larger size containers.
 8. The chuck defined in claim 7 further characterized by support means for said annular ring such that said ring is mounted for limited axial movement with respect to said body portion, and biasing means for urging said annular ring axially outwardly away from said rim portion for engaging the shoulder of the larger size containers to exert a resilient outward force thereon.
 9. A chuck for releasably retaining containers of varying body diameter and of varying neck and closure diameters, all of said containers having a concave neck outline, said chuck comprising a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving the closure of the larger size container to be accommodated, said body portion having a plurality of radially extending openings arranged symetrically around said central opening and communicating therewith, plunger means slidably received in said radially extending openings, each plunger means including an inner plunger end for engaging the concave neck portion of the container, and biasing means for urging said plunger end radially inwardly, a cam ring mounted for limited rotational movement on said body portion and extending peripherally around said radially extending openings, said plunger means further including a radially outwardly projecting portion having an inwardly facing flange surface, and said cam ring having an outer cam surface for engaging said flange surface on said projecting plunger portion to stop the plunger inner ends at preset positions wherein containers of different neck and closure diameters can be received therebetween with retaining forces which are substantially equal.
 10. The chuck defined in claim 9 further characterized by a container ejecting plug slidably mounted in said central body opening for movement between a normal axial position wherein said plunger inner ends engage first side abutment surfaces of said plug and a position axially spaced from said normal position, said plug being mounted for limited angular rotation in said central body opening for movement between first and second positions, said plug having second side abutment surfaces for stopping said plunger inner ends when said plug is in said normal axial position and in said second angular position.
 11. The chuck defined in claim 10 further characterized in that each of said plunger means includes a sleeve slidably received on said projecting plunger portion, said plunger biasing means comprising a coil compression spring one end of which acts against the plunger inner end and the other end of which spring acts against said plunger sleeve.
 12. The chuck defined in claim 9 further characterized in that said cam ring includes an inner cam surface for engaging said sleeve to permit the spring force to be preset to a predetermined value at said preset positions of said plunger inner ends.
 13. The chuck defined in claim 11 further characterized by indexing means for said plug to permit said plug to be manually rotated from and to said first and second angular positions.
 14. The chuck defined by claim 13 further characterized by indexing means for said cam ring to permit said cam ring to be manually rotated from and to first and second angular positions to define said preset plunger and spring positions.
 15. The chuck defined by claim 10 further characterized by an outer barrel member slidably received outside said body portion and connected to said plug for axial movement therewith.
 16. The chuck defined by claim 10 further characterized by an annular ring below said rim portion of said body portion central opening for engagement with the shoulder portion of the larger size containers.
 17. The chuck defined by claim 10 further characterized by support means for said annular ring such that said ring is mounted for limited axial movement with respect to said body portion, and biasing means for urging said annular ring axially outwardly away from said rim portion for engaging the shoulder of the larger size containers to exert a resilient outward force thereon.
 18. The chuck defined by claim 17 further characterized by screws threadably received in said ring and slidably received in said chuck body portion, said biasing means comprising a coil compression spring carried by said screws and acting between said ring and said body portion.
 19. The chuck defined by claim 18 further characterized by a positioner ring engageable by the heads of said screws and having arcuately shaped slots for said screws to serve as a washer between the heads of said screws and a surface of said chuck body portion opposite the spring engaging surface of said body portion.
 20. The chuck defined by claim 19 further characterized by said positioner ring having stepped thicknesses along said arcuate slot defined by a series of upwardly open cavities for the heads of said screws to permit prepositioning said support ring at any one of several spacings with respect to said chuck body portion.
 21. The chuck defined by claim 7 further characterized by screws threadably received in said ring and slidably received in said chuck body portion, said biasing means comprising a coil compression spring carried by said screws and acting between said ring and said body portion.
 22. The chuck defined by claim 21 further characterized by a positioner ring engageable by the heads of said screws and having arcuately shaped slots for said screws to serve as a washer between the heads of said screws and a surface of said chuck body portion opposite the spring engaging surface of said body portion.
 23. The chuck defined by claim 22 further characterized by said positioner ring having stepped thicknesses along said arcuate slot defined by a series of upwardly open cavities for the heads of said screws to permit prepositioning said support ring at any one of several spacings with respect to said chuck body portion.
 24. In a container chuck of the type which includes a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving the end of a container and having radially extending openings in which biased plungers are slidably received, and which chuck also includes an ejecting plug movable axially in the opening to eject a container therefrom, the improvement comprising an annular support ring below said body portion for engaging a shoulder of the container to steady it in the chuck, screws threadably received in said support ring and slidably received in said chuck body portion, a coil compression spring carried by each of said screws and acting between said support ring and said body portion, a positioner ring engageable by the heads of said screws and having arcuately shaped slots for said screws to serve as a washer between the heads of said screws and a surface of said chuck body portion opposite the spring engaging surface of said body portion, and said positioner ring having stepped thicknesses along said arcuate slot defined by a series of upwardly open cavities for the heads of said screws to permit prepositioning said support ring at any one of several spacings with respect to said chuck body portion.
 25. A chuck for releasably retaining containers characterized by a neck portion defining an opening, and also characterized by a shoulder portion somewhat larger than the neck portion, said chuck comprising a body portion with a central axial opening for receiving the neck portion of the container, said body portion including radially extending openings communicating with said central axial openings, plungers slidably received in said radially extending openings, biasing means for urging said plungers inwardly toward said neck portion, a container ejecting plug movable axially in the central axial opening of said chuck body portion so as to eject a container therefrom, an annular support ring below said body portion for engaging the shoulder portion of the container to steady it in the chuck, screws threadably received in said support ring and slidably received in said chuck body portion, a coil compression spring carried by each of said screws and acting between said support ring and said body portion of said chuck, and a positioner ring engageable by the heads of said screws and having arcuately shaped slots for said screws to serve as a washer between the heads of said screws and a surface of said chuck body portion opposite the spring engaging surface thereof. 